Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kirit Somaiya has filed a barrage of formal complaints at various police stations across Maharashtra, targeting what he calls a “systemic and state-sponsored breakdown of legal order” with regard to the unauthorised use of loudspeakers bhonge by mosques and madrasas in key districts.
Over the past week, Somaiya has visited police stations in Thane’s Mumbra, Sambhaji Nagar, Amravati district, and Pune, revealing shocking figures: over 1,100 loudspeakers blaring religious sermons and azaan without a single valid police permission in most cases.
“This is not just a noise issue. This is about lawlessness in the name of religion. These bhonges are illegal, unregulated, and imposed on citizens in broad daylight,” Somaiya slammed outside the City Chowk Police Station in Sambhaji Nagar, shortly after lodging his complaint.
भाजपा किरीट सोमैया ने ठाणे के विभिन्न पुलिस थानों में जाकर अवैध लाउडस्पीकरों के खिलाफ शिकायत दर्ज कराई है. सोमैया ने मुंब्रा क्षेत्र में बड़ी संख्या में मस्जिदों में लगे लाउडस्पीकरों पर गंभीर आपत्ति जताई है. उनके बताया कि मुंब्रा में लगभग 112 मस्जिदें और 33 मदरसे हैं, जिनमें से… pic.twitter.com/zrFg0D09ol
— Kirit Somaiya (@KiritSomaiya) August 2, 2025
Mumbra
The epicentre of Somaiya’s revelations is Mumbra, a heavily populated township in Thane district known for its dense concentration of Muslim religious institutions. According to Somaiya’s detailed findings, the area has approximately:
- 112 mosques
- 33 madrasas
- More than 500 loudspeakers in use across these establishments
Not one loudspeaker, Somaiya claimed, has the required police clearance or legal authorisation as mandated under the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000. “These are not just ‘bhonges’, these are tools of unchecked sound invasion into public life,” he told reporters, holding up copies of RTI responses and police correspondences.
Despite being a known sensitive zone, Mumbra appears to have enjoyed what Somaiya called “deliberate administrative silence” under successive governments. “If temples or private citizens use loudspeakers without permission, FIRs are instantly registered. Why are mosques being treated as a separate category under the law?” he asked pointedly.
Achalpur (Amravati): Official letter admits to zero permissions
In a rare and bold admission, the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Achalpur in Amravati district provided Somaiya with a written response dated July 28, verifying that: 148 mosques in areas like Achalpur, Paratwada, Saramspura, Chandur Bazar, Shirajgaon Kasba, and Brahmanwada Thadi
- Use 186 loudspeakers
- None have police permission
This admission, likely obtained via Somaiya’s persistent RTI applications and direct follow-ups, forms an explosive legal document showing official awareness and administrative inertia. “When police officers themselves confess that 100 per cent of these devices are illegal, the question becomes: Who is preventing them from taking action?” Somaiya asked.
अमरावती जिल्ह्यातील अचलपूर…. तालुक्यातील परतवाडा, अचलपुर, सरमसपुरा, चांदुर बाजार, शिरजगाव कसबा, ब्राम्हणवाडा थडी ह्या पोलिस ठाणे परिसरात 148 मशीद 186 भोंगे/लाऊडस्पिकर आहे
एकही मशिदीने परवानगी घेतली नाही
अचलपूर उपविभागीय पोलिस अधिकाऱ्यांनी ही माहिती 28 जुलै चा पत्राद्वारा मला… pic.twitter.com/jO0ANKjm0o
— Kirit Somaiya (@KiritSomaiya) August 2, 2025
Sambhaji Nagar: 168 loudspeakers, 70 mosques, zero permissions
On July 30, Somaiya visited City Chowk Police Station in Sambhaji Nagar (formerly Aurangabad), where he submitted a formal complaint revealing that:
- 168 loudspeakers
- Mounted on 70 mosques
- Not a single one has obtained police authorisation
Labeling the campaign as “Bhonge Mukta Sambhaji Nagar”, Somaiya challenged both the MVA-era bureaucratic leftovers and current Shiv Sena-BJP-run administration to prove their commitment to the law. “If a government cannot enforce sound laws, what business does it have claiming to be secular or lawful? This is institutional cowardice,” he said.
Loudspeaker FREE Maharashtra
BHONGE MUKTA Sambhaji Nagar
Yesterday I visited City Chowk Police Station of Sambhaji Nagar & filed Complaint
There are 168 Loudspeaker at 70 mosques Masjids at Sambhaji Nagar City Chowk Police Station Area.
NOT a Single Masjid taken Police… pic.twitter.com/8Pt1vzIPCZ
— Kirit Somaiya (@KiritSomaiya) August 1, 2025
Pune District: 308 mosques, 256 operating loudspeakers illegally
In Pune Maharashtra’s cultural and educational hub Somaiya’s investigation showed:
- 308 mosques using loudspeakers
- Only 52 have received permission
- 256 mosques openly violating legal norms
This represents a staggering 83 per cent non-compliance rate, making Pune one of the worst offenders in terms of legal oversight. “The elite classes speak of harmony from their soundproof homes while common citizens bear the brunt of daily decibel abuse. This is not harmony; it is harassment,” Somaiya stated in his address at a press conference held near Pune Station.
While opponents have tried to paint the campaign as a communal exercise, Somaiya maintains that his battle is entirely legal in nature.
“This is not a Hindu-Muslim issue. This is about the uniform application of the law. If temples are told to comply, so must mosques. If a Ganesh Utsav mandal needs a permit for two days of festivities, how is it that hundreds of mosques blast loudspeakers five times a day, all year round, without permission?” he asked.
According to the Supreme Court’s 2005 judgment on noise pollution, the use of loudspeakers without permission violates Article 21 (Right to Life and Personal Liberty) of the Constitution, as it impinges on the citizens’ right to a peaceful environment.
Bhonge Loudspeakers Mukta Maharashtra
Bhonge Mukta Pune!
308 Masjids in Pune District have Loudspeakers/Bhonge
Out of 308 Only 52 Masjids have taken permission to use Loudspeakers BHONGE
256 Masjids using Loudspeakers ILLEGALLY @BJP4India @Dev_Fadnavis pic.twitter.com/URdky3HJMh
— Kirit Somaiya (@KiritSomaiya) July 27, 2025
The Bombay High Court has also ruled in multiple cases that no loudspeaker religious or otherwise can be used in silence zones or beyond permitted hours without written approval.
Despite the overwhelming data and multiple complaints filed across police stations, the Maharashtra Home Department has maintained radio silence on the matter. Neither Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis nor Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has issued a statement on Somaiya’s campaign or the illegality unearthed.
This has prompted some within the BJP itself to raise concerns about “double standards” and “appeasement through inaction.” “Are we in power just to issue statements? Where is the legal action? Where are the FIRs? Where are the removals?” asked a senior BJP leader on condition of anonymity.
Somaiya is now preparing to escalate the matter by submitting a detailed report to:
- The Maharashtra Governor
- The National Green Tribunal (NGT)
- The Union Ministry of Home Affairs
- The Supreme Court, if required
He also intends to launch a citizen-based petition to document audio evidence and witness testimonials of loudspeaker violations in high-density areas.
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